Allister Grosart
Encyclopedia
Allister Grosart, PC
(December 13, 1906 – February 8, 1984) was a Progressive Conservative
politician, Senator
, journalist and businessman in Canada
.
Born in Dublin, Ireland
, his mother was a missionary and he was raised in China. He received a degree in law from the University of Toronto
but became a journalist instead of a lawyer. He worked for the Toronto Daily Star and The Globe and Mail
. During World War II
, he served with the 2nd battalion of the Irish Regiment reaching the rank of Major. After the war, he eventually joined a public relations firm.
Grosart was a key party organizer
and is credited by many for organizing the victories of the Diefenbeker Tories in the 1957 federal election
in which the party defeated the Liberals
for the first time since 1930
. He was also a key organizer in the subsequent 1958 election
in which the Diefenbaker government was returned with the largest majority
in Canadian history.
In 1962, Diefenbaker appointed Grosart to the Senate. He served as deputy leader of the Opposition from 1974 until 1979, and became Speaker of the Canadian Senate
when the Tories again formed government from 1979 to 1980 under Joe Clark
. Grosart retired from the Senate in 1981, and was appointed to the Queen's Privy Council for Canada
in honour of his long service.
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
(December 13, 1906 – February 8, 1984) was a Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
politician, Senator
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
, journalist and businessman in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Born in Dublin, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, his mother was a missionary and he was raised in China. He received a degree in law from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
but became a journalist instead of a lawyer. He worked for the Toronto Daily Star and The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail is a nationally distributed Canadian newspaper, based in Toronto and printed in six cities across the country. With a weekly readership of approximately 1 million, it is Canada's largest-circulation national newspaper and second-largest daily newspaper after the Toronto Star...
. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he served with the 2nd battalion of the Irish Regiment reaching the rank of Major. After the war, he eventually joined a public relations firm.
Grosart was a key party organizer
Party organizer
A party organizer or local party organizer is a position in some political parties in charge of the establishing a party organization in a certain locality.Herbert Ames wrote in his 1911 article "Organization of Political Parties in Canada" :...
and is credited by many for organizing the victories of the Diefenbeker Tories in the 1957 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1957
The Canadian federal election of 1957 was held June 10, 1957, to select the 265 members of the House of Commons of Canada. In one of the great upsets in Canadian political history, the Progressive Conservative Party , led by John Diefenbaker, brought an end to 22 years of Liberal rule, as the...
in which the party defeated the Liberals
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
for the first time since 1930
Canadian federal election, 1930
The Canadian federal election of 1930 was held on July 28, 1930 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 17th Parliament of Canada...
. He was also a key organizer in the subsequent 1958 election
Canadian federal election, 1958
The Canadian federal election of 1958 was the 24th general election in Canada's history. It was held to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 24th Parliament of Canada on March 31, 1958, just nine months after the 23rd election...
in which the Diefenbaker government was returned with the largest majority
Majority government
A majority government is when the governing party has an absolute majority of seats in the legislature or parliament in a parliamentary system. This is as opposed to a minority government, where even the largest party wins only a plurality of seats and thus must constantly bargain for support from...
in Canadian history.
In 1962, Diefenbaker appointed Grosart to the Senate. He served as deputy leader of the Opposition from 1974 until 1979, and became Speaker of the Canadian Senate
Speaker of the Canadian Senate
The Speaker of the Senate of Canada is the presiding officer of the Senate of Canada. The speaker represents the Senate at official functions, rules on questions of parliamentary procedure and parliamentary privilege, and oversee debates and voting in the red chamber. This position is often...
when the Tories again formed government from 1979 to 1980 under Joe Clark
Joe Clark
Charles Joseph "Joe" Clark, is a Canadian statesman, businessman, and university professor, and former journalist and politician...
. Grosart retired from the Senate in 1981, and was appointed to the Queen's Privy Council for Canada
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
in honour of his long service.